Postgame extra: rotation better

Dusty Baker probably put it best about the last six games.

“It was a good trip with the potential to be a great trip,” Baker said after his Reds got blanked by Chris Carpenter and the Cardinals, 6-0.

Had the Reds won today and gone home with a 5-1 record it would have been a good slingshot into the next series vs. the hot Mets.The most important thing to come out of the trip was the rotation got right again. Of the six games, there were five quality starts. The starters went 4-1 with a 2.89 ERA.

With three runs and seven hits allowed over six innings (zero walks, six Ks) Aaron Harang had two-straight quality starts on the trip, which is big considering where he started the season. But he had zero wiggle room against a superb Chris Carpenter.

It gets even more daunting when you see these numbers: Carpenter is 9-3 with a 2.02 ERA in 15 career starts vs. the Reds. He’s won seven-straight decisions since June 6, 2006.

Harang said Carpenter’s success did not intimidate him.

“I’m not facing my hitters. I just have to go out and worry about my game plan and what I’m going to do with their hitters,” said Harang, who is 0-2 vs. Carpenter this season. “If I can be out there and just outpitch him and let our guys get to him first.”

More Harang: “We came out on top this trip. It’s a bummer to go home with the last two games being tough losses. The guys have an upbeat attitude. We’ll just go home and get things turned around.”

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